Influence of a cod liver oil diet in healthy and insulin-dependent diabetic volunteers on fatty acid pattern, inhibition of prostacyclin formation by low density lipoprotein (LDL) and platelet thromboxane

Abstract

Ten healthy and twenty diabetic volunteers (type 1) received 15 capsules (à 450 mg) cod liver oil for 2 weeks daily in addition to a “normal” diet. The levels of eicosapentaenoic acid in the plasma phospholipids of both groups were increased after the treatment. The inhibition of the prostacyclin formation by LDL was diminished when the LDL was isolated after the treatment in comparison to LDL taken in the same concentration and from the same donors before it. The thromboxane B₂ (TXB₂) synthesis capacity of clotting whole blood, thrombin-induced TXB₂ formation by platelets as well as the 15(S)-hydroxy-11α,9α-epoxymethano-5Z, 13E-prostadienoic acid-induced platelet aggregation were not altered by the treatment in healthy volunteers, whereas in diabetics the TXB₂ formation capacity of clotting whole blood was decreased after the treatment in comparison with before it.